Initiatives

Initiatives

Cooperation with Donor Agencies

Industrial Development Authority (IDA) partners with a number of international donor agencies through a series of strategic, cutting-edge initiatives aimed at supporting the industrial sector and investors, with a special focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

 

United States Agency for International Development (USAID):

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED): IDA contributed data and technical input for studies prepared by Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED), and spearheaded value chain analysis studies for strategic industries such as automotive, furniture, and
    •  Support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (SSA): The SSA program provided critical support to new and growing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to drive income generation and employment, specifically targeting women and youth. SSA strengthened the business enabling environment by backing the new MSME Law and streamlining the MSMEs formalization process, thereby fueling their comprehensive growth. SSA secured the long-term viability of newly established incubators, BDS centers, One-Stop Shops, Women Entrepreneurs (WEN), Youth Entrepreneurs (YEN), and Tiye Angels networks. Furthermore, it offered direct support to MSMEs and startups adversely affected by the COVID-19 economic crisis.
  •  Ongoing Projects:
    •  Business Egypt (Grant currently suspended). The project aims to:
      • 1-Simplify licensing and industrial registration procedures in accordance with international best practices.
      • 2-Automate all IDA internal services as part of the licensing and registration system, including the development of an electronic allocation mechanism (for land and industrial complexes) and electronic payment.
      • 3-Establish electronic one-stop shop services integrated with internal IDA services system.
      • 4-Provide better access for investors to receive IDA services through a single electronic window.
      • 5-Provide technical support to IDA staff to manage the new system.

The World Bank: The World Bank is one of the most prominent international financial institutions cooperating with Egypt, particularly in the industrial sector, through a comprehensive portfolio of projects, some of which have been successfully completed, while others are currently under implementation.

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  Development Policy Financing (DPF):In 2014, the Egyptian Government and the World Bank signed an agreement to provide Egypt with a loan, which was subject to specific disbursement conditions. These conditions included requiring Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to simplify industrial licensing procedures. This requirement led to the issuance of Law No. 15 of 2017 on the Facilitation of Industrial Licensing Procedures. This program was implemented in cooperation with African Development Bank (AfDB), and upon the promulgation of Law No. 15 of 2017, all loan conditions were met, and the full loan amount was disbursed to the Egyptian Government.
    •  Enhancing Access to Support for Enterprises (EASE): The Enhancing Access to Support for Enterprises (EASE) project aimed at streamlining the procedures for obtaining licenses, to ensure equal opportunities and improve Egypt’s investment climate. It also provided essential support to IDA in fulfilling its strategic mandate: applying the principles of risk-based regulation (pre-approval and notification), with a specific focus on the IDA’s two core functions: Industrial Licensing and Allocation of Land for Industrial Purposes.
    •  Developing a mechanism for industrial zone planning that aligns with international benchmarking standards:The World Bank prepared a specialized tool for planning industrial zones and assessing their feasibility to assist IDA in making investment decisions regarding the establishment of new industrial zones.
    •  Upper Egypt Local Development Program (UELDP): Upper Egypt Local Development Program (UELDP), implemented in the Governorates of Qena and Sohag, aims to accelerate economic growth and achieve sustainable development by enhancing support for the private sector to create more sustainable employment opportunities. Under the UELDP framework, the following activities have been undertaken:
  • Preparation of all studies required for the development of the targeted industrial zones in (Qeft and Hou) in Qena Governorate, and (West Gerga and West Tahta) in Sohag Governorate. These studies included environmental and social studies, market studies and demand forecasting, strategic plans, financial and economic studies, as well as the development and implementation of a marketing plan for these industrial zones.
  • Development and implementation of a plan to modernize industrial zone management systems and establish an integrated governance model. The model included the establishment of Boards of Directors for the industrial zones, the formation of industrial forums to engage investors in the planning and monitoring of development plans, the development of a new organizational structure for the industrial zones, and capacity building for their staff. The performance indicator associated with this component has been successfully achieved..
  • Upgrading the infrastructure networks within the industrial zones in the Governorates of Qena and Sohag, including (electricity, water, wastewater, fire safety, and natural gas networks), in addition to (roads, green landscaping, perimeter fences and gates, as well as the construction and equipping of administrative and service buildings).

German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  The Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) project provided Business Development Services (BDS) to investors in the industrial zones of Qena and Sohag Governorates through the following activities:
      • 1-Training and development of managerial and administrative capabilities.
      • 2-Facilitating networking and business matchmaking among industrial companies operating within the industrial zones..
      • 3-Training Industrial Development Authority (IDA) staff on the use of the industrial-zone planning tool developed by the World Bank.
      • 4-Preparing a plan for the transfer of jurisdiction and management of industrial zones.
    •  Phase I of the Private Sector Innovation (PSI) Project has been successfully completed:The Private Sector Innovation (PSI) Project aims to improve the industrial innovation ecosystem in Egypt across four key industrial sectors: engineering, food, chemical, and packaging. PSI focuses on fostering innovation within the private sector and is structured around three main components:
      • 1-Policies and Legislative Framework.
      • 2-Industrial Services.
      • 3-Networking and Business Linkages
  •  Ongoing Projects:
    •  • Private Sector Innovation II (PSI II): aims to strengthen the portfolio of green services provided by Business Development Service Providers in Egypt. The project's main components include:
      • 1-Supporting government policies that promote the green transition within companies.
      • 2-Providing technical support to industrial zones to deliver services that assist companies in adopting green transition practices.
      • 3-Providing technical support to banking and non-banking financial institutions to facilitate financing for the green transition within industrial companies.
      • 4-Building the capacities of green transition service providers from both the public and private sectors.
      • 5-Providing technical support to start-ups to develop and deliver green transition solutions for the industrial sector.

 

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  Capacity Development on Energy Efficiency and Conservation: The Capacity Development on Energy Efficiency and Conservation project aims to provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacities of industrial establishments in the field of energy efficiency in Egypt. Implemented in cooperation with Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Petroleum, and Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). the project focuses on enhancing cooperation in policy development and data management related to energy efficiency. As part of the project, an Energy Efficiency Unit was established within Industrial Development Authority (IDA), with its roles and responsibilities clearly defined, while its personnel received capacity-building and technical training. This was achieved through introducing the Japanese experience in energy efficiency to IDA’s technical staff and providing hands-on training on measuring energy efficiency and managing factory energy consumption through field visits to industrial facilities.

 

European Union (EU)

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  The Trade and Domestic Market Enhancement Program (TDMEP) included the preparation of Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Strategy for the period 2018–2021, for which an Egyptian consultant was appointed to formulate and implement IDA’s strategic framework for that period in alignment with the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Strategy (2016–2020). In addition, a proposed organizational structure for IDA was developed in preparation for the issuance of IDA’s new governing law (Law No. 95 of 2018). Under the TDMEP project, a specialized consulting firm was hired to design the new organizational structure so as to ensure its alignment with IDA’s updated mandates and operational responsibilities as defined by Law No. 95 of 2018). Furthermore, in collaboration with the TDMEP project, the Ministry of Trade and Industry prepared a series of strategic studies for several industrial sectors identified in its 2016–2020 strategy, including the sectors of Chemical Industries, Building Materials, and Handicrafts.
  •  Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA) is a joint initiative of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Since 2016, SIGMA project has been supporting the simplification of procedures for domestic and foreign industrial investments in Egypt. The cooperation between SIGMA and IDA has resulted in the following achievements:
    • 1-The issuance of Law No. 15 of 2017 on the Facilitation of Industrial Licensing Procedures.
    • 2-Preparation of the Good Administrative Procedures Guide for Egypt (May 2019 Edition), which describes how modern public services should be organized and delivered to citizens and businesses in line with the principles of good public administration promoted by the European Union (EU) and OECD..
    • 3- Preparation of the Guide for Developing Secondary Legislation in Egyptian Legislative Bodies, which provides a structured methodology for developing laws, executive regulations, and internal rules. The methodology begins with a systematic analysis of the problem and relevant stakeholders, followed by the identification and assessment of policy options through Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), selection of the most appropriate option, drafting clear and concise legal texts, conducting an ex-ante RIA of the final legislative draft, issuing the legislation, and concluding with an ex-post RIA to evaluate its implementation and effectiveness.
    • 4-From December 2022 to March 2024, cooperation between IDA and SIGMA continued through a project aimed at facilitating industrial investment in Egypt by simplifying administrative communication channels between investors, IDA, and other competent administrative authorities.
    • 5- In May 2026, the draft Administrative Rules Governing Communication between Industrial Licensing Applicants and IDA was completed. The draft was jointly prepared under the framework of the cooperation project between IDA and the SIGMA Programme for the 2024–2025 period.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO):

  •  Completed Projects:
    •  Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) – Part of the Program for Country Partnership (PCP):The Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) project’s main objective is to create an enabling framework that supports the local production and broader adoption of solar thermal systems for industrial process heat generation. The SHIP initiative focused on two main sectors — Textiles and Chemicals — to demonstrate the potential of solar energy in industrial heat processes and to encourage its replication across other sectors.
    •  Industrial Motor Energy Efficiency Program – Part of the Program for Country Partnership (PCP):the Industrial Motor Energy Efficiency Program aims to improve Energy Efficiency in industrial motor systems. Industrial Development Authority (IDA) contributed by supplying relevant data and participating in awareness sessions with key stakeholders to highlight the importance of replacing conventional motors with High-Efficiency, Low-Consumption alternatives, thereby supporting national Energy Conservation efforts and promoting industrial competitiveness.
    •  Energy Efficiency Strategy in the Arab Republic of Egypt:The Energy Efficiency Strategy in the Arab Republic of Egypt project involved preparing a comprehensive study on Energy Efficiency policies and strategies within Egypt’s industrial sector. A joint committee was established to develop project proposals to be included under the national program, in collaboration with IDA.United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) developed an industrial Energy Efficiency Strategy focusing on policy actions to reduce energy consumption across five key industries: Iron and Steel, Cement, Fertilizers, Ceramics, and Engineering. The strategy serves as a guiding framework for future national initiatives on sustainable industrial energy management.
    •  Phase I of the Inclusive Green Growth in Egypt (IGGE) Programme was completed. IGGE aimed to raise awareness of the circular economy concept and its importance to the industrial sector. It also sought to build the capacity of a pool of trainers from IDA to deliver training to external stakeholders on circular economy. In addition, technical assistance was provided to IDA, and staff members from IDA’s technical departments were trained in applying the Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (TEST) methodology.
    •  SWITCH-MED III Project: The project aims to strengthen value chains for a greener and more competitive textile industry. Under this project, IDA provided data on textile and spinning factories across Egypt and contributed to a roundtable discussion involving UNIDO, representatives of the Swiss Embassy, and Industrial Modernization Centre (IMC) on mechanisms for promoting circular economy and reducing the environmental footprint of spinning and textile activities.
  •  Ongoing Projects:
    •  Phase II of the Inclusive Green Growth in Egypt (IGGE) Programme: The programme's main components include:
      • 1-Raising awareness of the circular economy concept and its importance to the industrial sector, while supporting green micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
      • 2-Providing financial and non-financial support to these enterprises.
      • 3-Promoting employment and job creation opportunities for youth and women.
      • 4-Mainstreaming and integrating green growth approaches into government policies and strategies.
    •  European Union Support to Trade, Industry, Growth and Rapid Market Access (TIGARA) Project: TIGARA Project's main components include:
      • 1-Value chain development and cluster support.
      • 2-Quality infrastructure.
      • 3-Strengthening industrial policies.
      • 4-Technological transformation.
    •  Green Forward for Industry (GFI) Programme – Supporting the Transition of SMEs towards the Green and Circular Economy and Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Green Economy in the Mediterranean Region: The GFI Program’s main components include:
      • 1-Enhancing competitiveness through the adoption of more resource-efficient and sustainable circular business models.
      • 2-Facilitating access to green finance, with a particular focus on the automotive industry and its feeder industries.
      • 3-Improving the environmental performance of SMEs.

International Labour Organization– ILO :

  •  Ongoing Projects:
  •  Promoting Enabling Environment for Productivity for Decent Work in Egypt Project: This initiative aims to enhance productivity and improve working conditions in Egypt's priority sectors, with primary components comprising:
    • 1-Conducting sectoral assessments of marble and leather tanning industries.
    • 2-Addressing productivity constraints and tackling key challenges facing both sectors.
    • 3-Improving working environment in Shaq El-Thoban and Robbiki industrial zones.
    • 4-Providing training and skills development for workers.
    • 5-Strengthening public-private sector cooperation
    • 6-Promoting exports and enhancing competitiveness.
    • 7-Organizing awareness-raising sessions for workers and employers.